BS8A - CHANGED LIVES
There had been no eye-witness to the Resurrection itself. No one had seen Jesus unwrap his grave clothes, fold them up, roll away the stone, and walk out of the tomb. So, if you’ve still wondering if this event could be true, you’re probably not alone.
For Christ’s disciples however, His appearances to over 500 of them during the course of several weeks proved beyond doubt to them that Jesus was alive – he had risen from the dead just as he said he would.
Acts 10:40-41 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For you and I that weren’t living at this time it’s the circumstantial evidence that provides even more compelling proof that this event happened – and has been clearly documented by historians. The circumstantial evidence is indirect facts from which the truth of a situation can be rationally drawn.
After Jesus was arrested, we saw the cowardliness of all the disciples. When the time came for Christ’s arrest, trials, torture, and crucifixion they fled and were nowhere to be found.
Mark 14:50-52
Only John made his way back to the cross to see Jesus die and support Christ’s mother.
John 19:25-27
Peter had denied Jesus not once, not twice, but three times during the night. He fled in absolute anguish when he realized what he had done.
Mark 14:66-72
All of them went into hiding. If they killed their teacher, what would they do to them? Fear gripped them.
John 20:19A
But now, a little more than a month after Christ’s death – after several meetings with Jesus – these men were starting to get their legs under them again.
Jesus had given them a commission to go into all the world –starting in Jerusalem. What did Jesus ask them to do?
Matthew 28:18-20
To give them the power to do this, Jesus would give them His own Spirit to indwell their human spirit. What did He ask His disciples to do?
Luke 24:49 / Acts 1:4-5, 8
No sooner had Jesus poured out his Spirit on these disciples then they went into action. We see them leaving their trades forever so that they could spread a very specific message:
Jesus was the prophesied Messiah from God…..
Matthew 16:16-17 / Matthew 26:63-64 / Luke 2:11 / Luke 4:41 / John 1:41 / John 4:26 / John 6:68-69 / John 11:26-27 / Acts 9:22
----who died on a Roman cross…..
Acts 2:23 / Acts 10:39 / Romans 5:6 / 1 Corinthians 15:3 / 2 Corinthians 5:15 / Revelation 5:9
—was buried…..(here are the four gospel accounts describing His burial)
Matthew 27:57-61/ Mark 15:42-47 / Luke 23:50-56 / John 19:38-42
----and rose again…..
Acts 2:24 / Acts 3:15 / Acts 10:40
---so that all of us could start over with God – so we could be reborn.
Romans 4:25 / Romans 10:9 / 1 Peter 1:3
They had absolutely NOTHING to gain from going off to tell others about Jesus ---and EVERYTHING to lose.
What we see in history are these very disciples going through tremendous hardships, persecutions ---
Matthew 5:11 / 10:23 / 19:29 / Acts 4:1-3 / 5:41 / 9:15-16
------and sometimes death.
Acts 7:54-60 / 12:1-5 / 2 Corinthians 4:11
While it’s true that some might die for what they sincerely believe is true (even if it is false), it’s also true that no one dies for what they KNOW to be a lie.
What we see are 11 credible men (Judas the traitor had committed suicide) who believed Jesus rose from the dead because they had seen him with their own eyes.
Acts 2:32
We see 11 credible men who waited to receive Christ’s Spirit (as Jesus had asked them to) and from that point on were changed men.
Acts 2:1-4
First, we see that the disciples were enabled to speak --- not just in their own language --- but in the multiple languages of Jews all over the world!
Acts 2:5-13
Then we hear Peter, immediately after receiving the gift of Christ’s Spirit, stand up and deliver a sermon that probably even surprised him! Let’s read a part of this sermon:
Acts 2:32-39
Notice that Peter is not afraid to lay the death of Jesus squarely at their feet.
Acts 2:36
And when Peter was asked “What must we do?”, he was direct and simple. What did he tell the people to do?
Acts 2:38
Was this the same man that denied Jesus three times and fled? No – this was now Peter the Rock. Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and the gift of his Spirit to Peter and the other apostles had changed them. They were now transformed men ready to serve their master.
Next Study: BS8B- Changed Skeptics